Tern

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tern \Tern\ (t[~e]rn), n. [Dan. terne, t[ae]rne; akin to Sw.
     t[aum]rna, Icel. [thorn]erna; cf. NL. sterna.] (Zool.)
     Any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds,
     allied to the gulls, and belonging to {Sterna} and various
     allied genera.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: Terns differ from gulls chiefly in their graceful form,
           in their weaker and more slender bills and feet, and
           their longer and more pointed wings. The tail is
           usually forked. Most of the species are white with the
           back and wings pale gray, and often with a dark head.
           The common European tern ({Sterna hirundo}) is found
           also in Asia and America. Among other American species
           are the arctic tern ({Sterna paradisaea}), the roseate
           tern ({Sterna Dougalli}), the least tern ({Sterna
           Antillarum}), the royal tern ({Sterna maxima}), and the
           sooty tern ({Sterna fuliginosa}).
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Hooded tern}. See {Fairy bird}, under {Fairy}.
  
     {Marsh tern}, any tern of the genus {Hydrochelidon}. They
        frequent marshes and rivers and feed largely upon insects.
        
  
     {River tern}, any tern belonging to {Seena} or allied genera
        which frequent rivers.
  
     {Sea tern}, any tern of the genus {Thalasseus}. Terns of this
        genus have very long, pointed wings, and chiefly frequent
        seas and the mouths of large rivers.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tern \Tern\, a. [L. pl. terni three each, three; akin to tres
     three. See {Three}, and cf. {Trine}.]
     Threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Tern flowers} (Bot.), flowers growing three and three
        together.
  
     {Tern leaves} (Bot.), leaves arranged in threes, or three by
        three, or having three in each whorl or set.
  
     {Tern peduncles} (Bot.), three peduncles growing together
        from the same axis.
  
     {Tern schooner} (Naut.), a three-masted schooner.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tern \Tern\, n. [F. terne. See {Tern}, a.]
     That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or
     numbers together; especially, a prize in a lottery resulting
     from the favorable combination of three numbers in the
     drawing; also, the three numbers themselves.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           She'd win a tern in Thursday's lottery.  --Mrs.
                                                    Browning.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  tern
       n : small slender gull having narrow wings and a forked tail